# Which celebrities have aged gracefully (persona-wise)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 31, 2004, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948 "2004-05-31T19:10:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CalH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@CalH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalH)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2004, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/21 "2004-06-01T23:03:08Z")
Should be “you’re kidding, right?” in case you were confused. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/22 "2004-06-01T23:14:31Z")
Tippi Hedren – Hollywood’s original “cat woman,” of sorts. In an industry town where many celebs have attached themselves rather speciously to one cause or another, Hedren has remained personally invested in and devoted to the big cats for many years. And incidentally, she still looks great! (Tippi at any age will always look better than daughter Melanie Griffith.) Roger Moore – don’t laugh! Many people fail to realize that Moore is actually the oldest actor to play official-franchise James Bond (incredible, given how over-the-hill as Connery was in “Diamonds Are Forever” versus how young and fresh Moore was in “Live and Let Die”). When his Bond days were over, Moore largely retired from acting and took up childrens’ causes through UNICEF – charity work for which, along with his acting career, he was recently knighted. So that’s “Moore… _Sir_ Moore” now. Michael Caine – thank Og he didn’t keep doing vehicles like “Blame It On Rio”. For a number of years now, it’s been interesting roles, his restaurants, and the acting-instruction stuff. Morgan Freeman – great actor, with a good voiceover presence, active in theater, but has also recently opened a blues club and obtained his pilot’s license. Peter O’Toole – in his salad days of youth, he was a world-class carouser, drunkard, and emotionally distant father. Now he’s a serial memoirist and raconteur on late-night talk shows. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/23 "2004-06-03T06:44:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Quote: > Sam Stone: Arnold Schwarzenegger > Your kidding right? Not at all. The guy is the most popular governor California has had in something like 20 years. He’s maintained his shape, he looks good, and he gets tons of respect. Twenty years ago he was a goofy looking bodybuilder with a bad accent. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/24 "2004-06-03T13:43:00Z")
Elizabeth Taylor: In the past she was a diva homewrecker. It seems she has mellowed out in the past few years. ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/25 "2004-06-03T13:56:55Z")
Judi Dench It’s Kath **a** rine, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/26 "2004-06-03T14:08:19Z")
[QUOTE=The Scrivener] Michael Caine – thank Og he didn’t keep doing vehicles like “Blame It On Rio”. For a number of years now, it’s been interesting roles, his restaurants, and the acting-instruction stuff. QUOTE] I second him, but isn’t it “Moyk’l Caiyne”? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/27 "2004-06-03T14:57:49Z")
> [@zoogirl](#): > > **Sam Elliot** , at least in his scruffy older guy phase makes me drool. _Roadhouse!_ (Um, wasn’t Patrick Swayze in that? Some other actor, anyway… 😉 ) He was also great as The Stranger in the Big Lebowski. > [@](#): > > Darkness warshed over the Dude - darker’n a black steer’s tookus on a moonless prairie night. There was no bottom. > [@](#): > > The Dude abides. I don’t know about you but I take comfort in that. It’s good knowin’ he’s out there. The Dude. Takin’ 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh. I sure hope he makes the finals. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/28 "2004-06-03T15:09:35Z")
Candace Bergen. In her early movies she was stiff and self-concious. She married, had kids, worked as a photographer and generally got out of the spotlight for a few years. When she came back she was much more relaxed and showed a flair for comedy no one thought she had. Her looks have aged pretty gracefully, as well. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/29 "2004-06-03T15:15:22Z")
> [@Jervoise](#): > > Judi Dench Seconded. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/30 "2004-06-03T16:43:29Z")
TV Moms Dept: Shirley Jones–saw her yesterday at the [Stars in the Alley](http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm?int_news_id=4790) free Broadway concert. She must be in her seventies but she stars eight times a week in 42nd Street alongside son Patrick Cassidy (who doesn’t look too bad himself). Jane Wyatt–scion of New York society and major stage star in her early years, aged into a fragile-looking beauty now. Mostly sidelined with strokes and all now but she is, after all, 92 years old! ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/31 "2004-06-03T16:57:26Z")
Christopher Walken has become comfortable in roles that showcase his unique sense of humor and physical grace as much as his vaunted creepy delivery. I think that’s cool. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/32 "2004-06-03T18:15:20Z")
Bruce Dern: type cast as a psycho early in his career, his persona has mellowed and matured. He can still play a helluva psycho. Dennis hopper: stoned freak to articulate thoughtfull artist ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/33 "2004-06-03T18:42:14Z")
Mary Tyler Moore. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/34 "2004-06-03T18:47:35Z")
Anthony Hopkins: Used to throw temper tantrums when working (especially when he was drinking). Has been sober for more than 25 years now and basically just enjoys working. He has the Oscar, so he’s happy. I think he did most of his mellowing out in the 1990s. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Cooper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@Agent\_Cooper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Cooper)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/35 "2004-06-03T21:17:22Z")
Dunno if this is supposed to just be actors but my vote goes to Hef. How could he NOT age gracefully? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/36 "2004-06-03T21:57:53Z")
> [@Rabid Child](#): > > Elizabeth Taylor: In the past she was a diva homewrecker. It seems she has mellowed out in the past few years. Yeah, to become a complete fruitcake! **Sam** , Arnold has moved beyond the dumb bodybuilder, but he’s not what I’d call “graceful” or “elegant and charming.” Nor does he have “class”. Not by a longshot. (and it has NOTHING to do with his politics. So don’t go there.) I’d like to add Sir Ian McKellen Ellen Corby of _The Waltons_ fame still managed to be a fantastic actress after a debilitating stroke. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/37 "2004-06-03T23:13:00Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Yeah, to become a complete fruitcake! Yeah, you’re right—she IS a fruitcake. I probably shouldn’t have included her. ---
**Author:** ![MizQuirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@MizQuirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizQuirk)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/38 "2004-06-04T01:24:37Z")
Tyne Daly. Don’t know what she’s like in real life, but I think she’s fantastic in _Judging Amy_ . ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/39 "2004-06-04T05:02:07Z")
David Bowie ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948/40 "2004-06-04T06:12:08Z")
Carol Burnett Deborah Raffin Peter Boyle Leslie Nielsen [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-celebrities-have-aged-gracefully-persona-wise/247948.md?page=3)